Important Associations and International Organizations

Abstract

With the fundamentals of diplomacy covered, the question is which international bodies NGO should work with in order to help animals, and then how to approach them. There are hundreds possible, so the section discusses the most important from the perspective of raising funds and advancing policy. The bodies fall into four basic functional groups, but many have overlapping responsibilities. Group one lists major NGO alliances with significant influence on policy makers in the UN, the Red Cross, the US government, and the European Commission. Group two focuses on emergency management and international law and should be considered essential for any NGO interested in protecting animals from both war and natural disasters before, during, and after a crisis. Group three focuses on development, the international bodies that build sustainable cultures and cities, as well as distribute food. This is also where the World Bank Group resides. The fourth and fifth groups focus on the environment and conservation, both with many animal intersections.